The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1887-01-20
AarifllLtural.
GUANO--WHAT is TTg


The word guaao. or rather huano,
belongs to the Quichua or Indian
language of Peru. When the Span
iards discovered that country. about
three and half centuries ago, they
found it extensively and intelligibly
cultivated. As it never rains on the
coast OF Peru, irrigation has always
been necessary, and the character
and magnitude of the works con-
structed by the Indians to water
their lands were matters of surprise
and comment to the Spanish inva-
ders. They were also amazed at the
size and variety of the crops produc-
ed, and found that the natives used
freely a peculiar natural fertilizer,
which they called "huano.' They
learned that the transportation of
this substance from the islands where
it occurred in deposits, gave employ
menl to large number Of men, and
many small vessels.
One of the Spanish historians of
that day says The eff, t of this
substance they call 'huano is truly
wonderful to behold, small quaint
ty making the land yield an hundred
fold. This material was no other
than what is now known in this coun-
try as Peruvian guano, and It's use in
Peru, at least, dates from a very re-
mote period, and to this day no 9TH
er manure is employed, and notwith-
standing the land has been under
cultivation for centuries, there is still
no diminution in the yield, and the
production Of sugar cane, tobacco.
cotton. corn, wine, &C, is enormous,
and may safely bear comparison with
that of the most fertile region of the
globe.
From these facts, it would seem
that the idea prevalent among some
farmers, that guano Injuries the land.
is certainly fallacy, at least so far
as Peru is concerne l. for il it had
bad effects on the soil il would surely
be noticed everywhere in that couu-
try.
But returning to the word 'guano8
both Webster and Worcester de-
fine it as a substance ioand on Ger
tain islands, chiefly on the coast of
South America and Africa, consi /
ing of the excrements OF birds, and
characterized by large percentage
OF urate of ammonia and other am
monical salts.
The name "guano' has, however
been applied unjustly to a great
many natural and artificial com
pounds sold as fertilizers, but devoid
wholly, or in great part, Of the char
acterlstlcs OF genuine guano. Phos-
phate of lime, mixtures Of bone black
fish or meat scral, &c. are frequent
| ly offered as guano. How great So
ever their peculiar advantages may
| be, it is a misrepresentation Of the
name to call them guanos, and likely
to mislead the purchaser.
1t is true that there exists pecu-
liar phosphate rock which once was
guano, but having been exposed to
the rains of centuries, is thoroughly
leached, and contains not a trace Of
the soluble ammoniacal salts it once
possessed, and no longer retains the
valuable iertilizing properties of Pc
ruvian guano. such are the Som
brcro, Bakers Island aud other So
called guauoS
These are the residue from the cx-
creta Of birds, yet the action OF water
has SO altered their properties that
they are no longer guanos. Similar
ity Of origin is by no means a guran-
tee that two substances are one and
the same, and as before said. under
the term Of guano should be embrac-
ed only such natural fertilizers as re
tain all the uratc Of ammonia and
other soluble ammoniacal salts which
the Peruvian guano possesses.
\ still more improper use Of the
name ''guano" is made by the manu-
facturers of artificial fertilizers, who
designate their products by the term
guano, qualified perhaps by some adj
Jectiyes. but all Of which need to be
composted to give anything like the
same results as even the raw Pcruvi-
an guano Hence, ii is clear that
the only article which Is sold in this
country that should bear the name
OF guano, is that imported from Peru,
and a clear understanding Of this
fact Will save our farmers disappoint-
ment and expense. GcadrY Gndie-
H'aR.
| Fhprc IL M pSn IF dairr any hnsi-